NSN Completes Transfer of Network Mgt R&D to Tieto

Nokia Siemens Networks and Tieto Corporation have completed the transaction to outsource part of the maintenance, technical support and R&D for Nokia Siemens Networks’ mobile network Operations Support System (OSS) and Subscriber Data Management (SDM) activities in Finland, including the transfer of 238 Nokia Siemens Networks employees, to Tieto. The deal was originally announced in March.
http://www.nokiasiemensnetworks.com

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Integra Telecom Launches Wavelength Services

Integra Telecom has launched Wavelength Services to provide metro-area and long-haul private networking for customers who require high-bandwidth, dedicated network transport between facilities.


Integra Telecom operates a 5,000-mile long-haul fiber network and a 3,000-mile metropolitan access network, including more than 1,900 fiber-fed buildings, in 35 markets across 11 Western states, including: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, Utah and Washington.


"Businesses today must store, manage and transport larger volumes of data than ever before. Our customers want assurances that their connections are secure and expertly managed, with ample capacity to support their growing network requirements," said Mike Kozlowski, director of product management for transport and data services at Integra Telecom. "Integra's Wavelength solution gives businesses the big data pipes they need to keep their facilities and IT resources tightly connected."http://integratelecom.com/services/Wavelength_Services.php

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Cisco to Open Innovation Center in Rio de Janeiro

Cisco announced plans to invest over R$1 billion (US$540 million) in Brazil over the next four years to foster innovation, transformation and socio-economic development. The investments will be focused around four main pillars: (1) the opening of a Cisco center of innovation in Rio de Janeiro; (2) investment in a Brazil-focused ICT and digital economy venture capital fund; (3) the expansion of local manufacturing in the country; and (4) intellectual property agreements and partnerships with Brazilian companies and entities to co-develop innovations to better serve the market.


Cisco expects these investments will generate around 800 jobs in Brazil, directly and indirectly through its partner ecosystem.


The Cisco Rio Center of Innovation will support Cisco's global Smart+Connected Communities efforts in Brazil, which aim to implement Cisco technologies via a service-delivery platform to enhance access to Internet-based services, spur economic development, and reduce the cost of government operations.
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In addition, Cisco announced plans to expand its local manufacturing in Brazil. The company began manufacturing set-top boxes in early 2011 at a plant in Manaus. This site has already expanded twice since then. With the current announcement, Cisco will expand its local manufacturing operations to include some of the best-selling models of its core routing and switching products, which will be produced in Brazil through one of its manufacturing partners. This expansion will be in compliance with PPB (Processo Produtivo Básico) and will reinforce Cisco's investments in local development.
http://www.cisco.com

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IEEE Forms 802.3 Twisted Pair GigE Study Group -- Automotive Ethernet

IEEE has formed an 802.3 Reduced Twisted Pair Gigabit Ethernet PHY study group that will examine automotive networking applications.


The global automotive industry is increasingly looking toward Ethernet to provide the backbone for all data connectivity, from infotainment systems to driver assistance to vehicle control systems such as those used in brakes, suspension and transmission. To achieve Gigabit Ethernet networking speeds via 1000BASE-T for those applications, four pairs of wires would be required. Reducing the number of wire pairs would cut the size and weight of Ethernet wiring in a vehicle.


The new IEEE 802.3 study group will explore the potential for an IEEE 802.3 Ethernet standards project to define a Reduced Twisted Pair Gigabit Ethernet PHY.


“With a tremendous expansion in the number of Ethernet nodes in automobiles forecasted, the efficiencies to be realized in reducing wire pairs to achieve Gigabit Ethernet networking speeds will be of growing importance to that industry,�? said Steve Carlson, chairperson of the IEEE 802.3 Reduced Twisted Pair Gigabit Ethernet PHY Study Group and president of High Speed Design, Inc.


Added Dr. Kirsten Matheus, project manager for Ethernet IP & Strategy at BMW: "The automotive industry is moving full speed towards Ethernet-based in-car networking. A reduced pair Gigabit Ethernet standard suitable for automotive use is the missing link toward the flexible, scalable and future-proof networking technology we would like to deploy. We are excited at the prospect of this IEEE 802.3 activity."http://www.ieee802.org/3/RTPGE/index.html

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Cavium Expects Revenues to Decline 6-7% for Q1

Cavium issued updated financial guidance, saying it now expects results for the first quarter of 2012 to be below the company's previous outlook. Cavium now expects that revenue in the first quarter of 2012 will be approximately 6% to 7% lower than revenue in the fourth quarter of 2011. The company noted that revenues during the first quarter increased sequentially in the enterprise and data center markets, but declined in the service provider and broadband and consumer market. Sales in the service provider market were affected by continued inventory de-stocking, while sales into the broadband and consumer business were affected by delays in deployment of certain programs.


Cavium expects that total sales in the second quarter of 2012 will increase sequentially. The company expects that earnings per share in the first quarter of 2012 will be lower than previously expected by between $0.06 and $0.07 per share.
http://www.cavium.com

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Ericsson Completes BelAir Acquisition

Ericsson completed its previously-announced acquisition of BelAir Networks. The former BelAir Networks' staff will be integrated into the Ericsson group in business unit Networks over the coming months.


BelAir Networks, which is based in Ottawa, Ontario, supplies indoor and outdoor Wi-Fi systems that enable service providers to build scalable, high performance Wi-Fi networks. Announced customers include AT&T and Comcast.


"We are gaining BelAir Networks' leading position in carrier-grade Wi-Fi equipment both in terms of installed base and product portfolio. By integrating BelAir Networks' talented people and these new assets into Ericsson's mobile infrastructure leadership, we will accelerate the integration of Wi-Fi and cellular technologies and strengthen our heterogeneous network (hetnet) offering," said Johan Wibergh, Executive Vice President and head of business unit Networks, Ericsson.
http://www.ericsson.com

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CommScope Offers Upgraded HELIAX 3.0 Cabling for Cell Sites

CommScope announced the latest generation of its HELIAX interconnect solution designed for all types of cellular network site architectures.


HELIAX 3.0, built on Andrew Solutions connectivity technology, offers hybrid fiber and coaxial options for traditional as well as remote radio head configurations. The interconnect solution also provides faster, easier installations, network consistency and reduced passive intermodulation (PIM).


For sites with remote radio heads, HELIAX Remote Fiber Feeder (RFF) Cable combines power conductors and fiber into a single, high-performance cable. The RFF Cable features a gel-free design, a UV-rated outer jacket, rugged lightning-tested shield, and dry moisture-blocking elements within each fiber component. RFF Cable is available in single-mode or multi-mode with fiber and power conductor configurations and counts to supply a wide range of remote radio unit designs.


“HELIAX 3.0 is poised to become the interconnect solution for LTE. As network complexity increases, it’s critical to have one trusted solution that helps you deploy new technology quickly and easily,�? said Stan Catey, senior vice president, Cable Products, CommScope. “Operators must manage both national and regional networks with varying preferences, installations and technology overlays—doing so cost-efficiently is a growing challenge for them. Many networks now use both traditional coax and hybrid fiber components, which can make it difficult to ensure all equipment works together efficiently and properly. We believe HELIAX 3.0 brings it all together for operators in a way that hasn’t been done before.�?http://

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Digicel Acquires Voila in Haiti

Digicel Group has acquired its Haitian mobile operator, Voila, from its parent company, US-based Trilogy International Partners, for an undisclosed sum. The transaction closed on Friday, March 30, 2012.


The two companies will continue to be run separately.


Voila, which has been in the Haitian market since September 1999, currently serves nearly a million customers.


Digicel meanwhile launched in Haiti in 2005 and currently serves over 3.5 million customers there. Digicel has invested over US$600 million in its operations in Haiti to date and the Digicel Haiti Foundation has completed 70 schools providing education to 30,000 Haitian children.


Commenting on the acquisition, Colm Delves, Digicel Group CEO, said; "We are pleased to welcome Voila customers and staff to the Digicel family. As proud Haitian companies, Digicel and Voila share one very important thing in common; we are both deeply committed to ensuring our respective customers benefit from the best mobile experience. Digicel's acquisition of Voila will see mobile users across Haiti benefiting from increased investment in even better mobile services and new technology in the future."http://www.digicelgroup.com

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Altobridge Acquires Mobile Backhaul IP from Replify

Altobridge Limited has acquired mobile backhaul intellectual property from Replify.


Altobridge has been embedded this functionality into its patent-pending data optimisation platform, Data-at-the-Edge, and includes Byte Level Caching, Predictive Cache Loading, Data Stream de-duplication, Data Compression and Protocol Optimization, along with standard data optimization techniques.


Altobridge Data-at-the-Edge enables data passing between an operator’s core network and its radio access network (RAN) to be identified, managed and optimized at the most granular level, with intelligence to apply the best possible optimization to differing forms of data, e.g. video and email.

The company said its solution delivers mobile data backhaul reductions of over 50% and therefore has profound impact on the costs of delivering mobile broadband via backhaul-constrained cellular base stations. It can be applied to base stations serving remote communities, remote enterprises and macro urban areas in emerging markets and developing nations.

“Altobridge has spent a decade driving down the cost of remote communications access. Over the last three years, we have concentrated on mobile broadband optimization and this turnkey solution enables the world’s mobile network operators to truly bridge the mobile broadband divide,�? said Mike Fitzgerald, Chief Executive, Altobridge.
http://www.altobridge.com

• In March 2011, Altobridge, a start-up based in Dublin, Ireland, announced US$12 million in funding from Intel Capital and IFC for its low-cost, low-capital, wireless communications solutions designed for rural communities. The Altobridge solution provides wireless access for remote communities, enterprises and schools of the world's emerging markets. The company claims its "Data-at-the-Edge" reduces mobile network operators' backhaul requirements by at least 50%.

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NTT DOCOMO Cancels Plans for Silicon JV

NTT DOCOMO terminated an agreement concerning the establishment of a joint venture company to develop and sell semiconductor products for mobile devices, which the company signed with Fujitsu Limited, Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited, NEC Corporation, Panasonic Mobile Communications Co., Ltd. and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. in December 2011.


NTT DOCOMO said it was canceling the joint-venture agreement because a consensus on the details of the envisioned company could not be reached by the target deadline, the end of March.
http://www.ntt.co.jp

• In February, NTT DOCOMO, NEC, Panasonic Mobile Communications and Fujitsu announced plans to join forces to develop the software and hardware intellectual property for a single large-scale integration (LSI) chip that will enable small, energy-efficient modems to support the GSM, W-CDMA, HSPA+ and LTE mobile standards. The companies said the first prototype chips had already been taped out and tested. All mobile broadband standards supported by the chip meet 3GPP specifications. The LTE standard supports FDD (Frequency Division Duplexing) mode adopted by DOCOMO and TDD (Time Division Duplexing) mode expected to be adopted for LTE networks in China and other markets, which will help to further the development of advanced mobile devices by manufacturers worldwide.

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Dell to Acquire Wyse for Desktop Virtualization

Dell agreed to acquire Wyse Technology for its desktop virtualization technology. Financial terms were not disclosed.


Wyse, which is headquartered in San Jose, California, offers thin, zero and cloud PC client solutions with advanced management, desktop virtualization and cloud software supporting desktops, laptops and next generation mobile devices. Wyse has shipped more than 20 million units. The company's annual revenues are in the $375 million range.


In some environments, a virtual desktop allows enterprises to more efficiently and securely manage their users and end point devices. With this acquisition, Dell expands its enterprise solutions portfolio and offers customers an ever broadening array of tailored solutions to meet their needs.
http://www.dell.com
http://www.wyse.com

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Ciena Supplies 100G for AAPT's Sydney-Melbourne Route

AAPT has commissioned its 100G inter-capital network, operating between Melbourne and Sydney, using equipment from Ciena.


The 100G service, which launched on April 1, is powered by Ciena’s market-leading 6500 Packet-Optical Platform equipped with WaveLogic™ coherent optical processors to enable delivery of 100G wavelength services. AAPT's internet, Ethernet and IP VPN customers can now connect at speeds up to 100G, satisfying the increasing demand for high-bandwidth capacity throughout Australia.


AAPT is 100% owned by Telecom New Zealand.
http://www.ciena.com
http://www.aapt.com.au

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Telefónica and Intel Run Enterprise Cloud Pilot

Telefónica Digital and Intel are conduction a joint research program to prove technologies that will allow large, small and medium enterprises to seamlessly migrate computing workloads from their local data center to a third-party public cloud. This solution demonstrates the concept of a cloud-bursting hybrid cloud service.


The public cloud provides an integrated portal where enterprises will be able to manage their internal data center resources and the resources deployed on the public cloud. Enterprises will be able to interoperate transparently between these two environments. The hybrid cloud provides complete IT capabilities to IT managers in a quick, secure, efficient and flexible manner.


The companies have demonstrated the cloud-bursting exchange from a local private cloud (played by the Intel Cloud Builder facility) to the public cloud (played by the Telefónica Virtual Data Center public cloud service). Cloud resource provisioning across the hybrid cloud is achieved under the OpenStack framework, proving the feasibility of distributing workloads from private to public clouds on top of this open source platform.


The next phase of activities are planned to illustrate the trustworthy enforcement of infrastructure management policies across cloud service boundaries. Operational parameters such as power management policies will be deployed using Intel Trusted Execution Technology, Intel Node Manager and Intel Data Center Manager.


"This capability brings a previously unavailable level of transparency and federation between cloud consumers and Cloud providers, helping preserve the service policies across cloud boundaries down to the hardware platform level. Cloud consumers will have an easier time assessing service quality and SLA compliance. Cloud providers will be able to offer differentiated cloud services even when their offering is part of a larger service�?, says Jim Blakley, Intel Architecture Systems Integration Division Director at Intel.
http://www.telefonica.com
http://www.intel.com

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TeliaSonera Appoints Nokia Executive

TeliaSonera announced the appointment of Robert Andersson as President and Chief Executive Officer of Sonera in Finland and member of TeliaSonera Group Management.


Andersson , aged 51, has held a number of managerial and executive positions in strategy and business development, sales, finance, and operations in the Nokia Group throughout his career. In recent years Robert has been Senior Vice President of Strategic Alliances and Business Development, Executive Vice President of Devices Finance, Strategy and Sourcing and Executive Vice President, Customer and Market Operations. He was a member of the Group Executive Board at Nokia. 2005-2009. http://www.teliasonera.com

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GSMA Sees Transformative Role for Mobiles in Education

Mobile devices will play a transformative role in education especially in developing markets, according to a new report issued by the GSMA. The report, published jointly with McKinsey & Company, calculates that mEducation will be a $70 billion market opportunity by 2020.


"mEducation is poised to lead to a major transformation of the education landscape," said Ana Tavares Lattibeaudiere, Head of Connected Living at the GSMA. "Mobile operators can play a significant role beyond that of connectivity providers by developing products and managing systems. Teachers can teach in a more innovative and personalised way, leading to greater student engagement, higher attendance and improved achievement. Increased support by governments can assist the process of moving on from pockets of innovation to widespread mobile use in education and ultimately help drive global adoption."


Some predictions from the report:

• mEducation products and services will represent a US$38 billion market, nearly 90 per cent of which will be generated through content such as educational e-books, software including educational apps and platforms such as learning management systems and mobile learning environments.



• The opportunity for mEducation devices, such as smartphones and tablets, will be worth a further US$32 billion by 2020.



• The core opportunity for the mEducation market is the K-12 segment of kindergarten to grade 12 equivalent students, aged between six and 18, which receives around 55 per cent of global expenditure on education. Another key segment is higher education, which commands around 30 per cent of global education expenditure.



• The market is predicted to grow at 50 to 55 per cent CAGR(1) between 2012 and 2020 in developing regions such as Latin America, developing Asia Pacific and Middle East and Africa, compared to 25 to 30 per cent for developed regions of Europe, North America and developed Asia Pacific.

http://www.gsma.com/meducation

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